Canabalt

Quite possibly the father of all modern infinite running time wasters, Canabalt is undeniably addicting. Originally existing as a Flash game, you must help your pixelated man survive the world that is crumbling around him for as long as possible. As you continue to run from left to right across this seemingly flat world of rooftops, the timing and placement of each jump determines how long you survive this round. While most people will struggle to survive for longer than a minute, the game beckons you to keep on trying and before you know it an hour has passed.

One of the best parts of Canabalt is the mockery that comes from losing. No matter where you fall or how far you’ve gotten away from that first hallway, Canabalt makes sure to describe to you exactly how it is you died. Whether you’ve barely managed to stumble out of the first hallway before dying or you jumped too far and smacked into the next building, the landing screen makes sure to describe it to you before encouraging you to try again. As with most games like Canabalt, there’s a global leaderboard to show you just how bad you are at this game.

Available for $2.99 on both iOS and Android, Canabalt recommends you grab your favorite headphones when you sit down to play the game and enjoy the high quality soundtrack that is included with the game. We concur.

Jetpack Joyride

Imagine breaking out of a secret weapons facility, and as you blow up a wall that you swear was between you and the exit you stumble across a jetpack that is powered by bullets. What do you do in that situation? Jetpack Joyride puts you in the shoes of a guy in just such a situation, and the only way out it to fly through a complex series of obstacles with your new bullet-happy jetpack. Along the way you come across spectacular robots and contraptions that help you escape the lasers and missiles that are determined to stop you from leaving this infinitely long facility with this impressive bullet slinging jetpack you happened across.

Jetpack Joyride is incredibly addicting, and features a number of goal oriented toys to keep you playing for a long time. You can earn cash to buy new jetpacks that are propelled by something other than bullets, or you can work toward accomplishing specific missions like reaching a certain distance without picking up a single coin. The more you play the game, the more customized your character gets, though none of the jetpacks or missions make the game any easier to play.

You can find JetPack Joyride on iOS and Android for free, as well as the Microsoft Store and Xbox Live for $1.99.

And that’s our list of games like Temple Run 2! They might seem disparate, and in many ways they are, but fundamentally these are games that are focused on two things: reflexes and repetition. Only once each mastered the mechanics behind those two did they concern themselves with less important things, like the story, scoring, or social features. Additionally, each one is made so that you can pick it up, have fun, and end your game even if you only have a minute or two to play. It’s not an easy thing to pull off, but these games — just like Temple Run 2 — do it brilliantly.